Rediscovery of the rare Phrynomedusa appendiculata (Lutz, 1925) (Anura: Phyllomedusidae) from the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazi

Author(s)

Moraes, Leandro J. C. L. ^{[1, 2]} ; Baeta, Delio ^{[3, 4]} ; Amaro, Renata C. ^[2] ; Martensen, Alexandre C. ^[5] ; Pavan, Dante ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Inst Nacl de Pesquisas da Amazonia, Coordenacao Biodiversidade, BR-69067375 Manaus, Amazonas - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Programa Pos Grad Zool, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Dept Vertebrados, Museu Nacl, BR-20940040 Rio De Janeiro, RJ - Brazil

^[4] Univ Porto, Ctr Invest Biodiversidade & Recursos Genet, Campus Vairao, R Padre Armando Quintas, P-4485661 Vairao - Portugal

^[5] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Ctr Ciencias Nat, Campus Lagoa do Sino, BR-18245970 Buri, SP - Brazil

^[6] Ecosfera Consultoria & Pesquisa Meio Ambiente, BR-29714000 Itapina, ES - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Zootaxa; v. 5087, n. 4, p. 522-540, JAN 10 2022.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The genus Phrynomedusa Miranda-Ribeiro, 1923 comprises rare and little known phyllomedusid species from southern Atlantic Forest, Brazil. Phrynomedusa appendiculata (Lutz, 1925) is known from three localities since its description and considered a ``lost species{''} because it was last sighted 51 years ago. This pervasive lack of knowledge raised a significant concern about its threat status. Here, we present the rediscovery of P. appendiculata from a breeding population in the Atlantic Plateau forests of the state of Sao Paulo. This new record allowed the gathering of novel ecological, acoustic and morphological data for this species. Most of the novel data agreed with the variation historically reported for the species, but we found subtle divergences that we interpret as intraspecific variation. Moreover, this record also allowed a reassessment of geographic distribution of the species, and the first inference of its phylogenetic relationships based on molecular data (mitochondrial and nuclear DNA). The resulting phylogeny corroborated the generic placement and evolutionary distinctiveness of P. appendiculata, evidencing the species as sister to the clade P. marginata + P. dryade. Based on novel and historical data, we discuss some putative factors influencing the rarity of P. appendiculata and its congeners, and provide conservation perspectives. We expect that the novel data can support further assessments of threat status for this rare species, as well as initiatives aiming its conservation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/20501-8 - Governing the Atlantic Forest transition: improving our knowledge on forest recovery for ecosystem services
• Grantee: Alexandre Camargo Martensen
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Young Investigators Grants